Roherty in December pleaded guilty to one count of felony theft, according to online court documents. He was sentenced to three years probation and in April ordered to pay $73,243 plus court costs to K.B. Sharpening.

Roherty told an investigating Rock County deputy that he started sneaking carbide out of K.B. Sharpening, where he worked as a CNC machine operator. He started taking scrap pieces of carbide in March 2011—about a month after he was hired. Overtime had been cut, and Roherty's paychecks were $150 less per week, according to the criminal complaint.

Alliant Energy had cut off power to Roherty's home, he told police.

Roherty heard around the break room that carbide was worth $8.50 per pound at scrap yards. He started smuggling pieces out of the shop and into his car in his pants pockets or in a coffee cup, according to the criminal complaint.

Eventually he started taking boxes of scrap carbide as well as new carbide.

Roherty went to Stateline Recycling directly from work. The recycling company had 62 receipts signed by Roherty, and he made $7,287 from selling the scrap metal to the recycler.

Roherty in June was charged with four counts of misdemeanor theft and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is accused of taking jewelry and a gun from a Milton home in February. He is in custody at the Rock County Jail, according to jail records.